How to choose the right guitar for you!
Choosing the right guitar for you can be intimidating when there are so many options to choose from. There are several factors to consider, so here is a quick guide to help you find the right instrument:
Acoustic guitars- These guitars are great for beginners are they typically come with phosphor bronze strings that can help strengthen your fingers and build dexterity. No amp is needed with this guitar making it a solid choice for practice because you can pick it up and strum anywhere.
Electric guitars-These guitars are great for rock, blues, funk, metal, or any genre really. One thing to keep in mind with electric guitars is that they require an amplifier to be heard. It is important to set a budget for an amplifier of your choice but if you don’t know where to begin with amps, we can help you there as well.
Classical Guitars-These guitars feature nylon strings and are ideal for fingerstyle music and classical music. Keep in mind that these guitars usually are not as bright sounding as an acoustic guitar with bronze strings!
Dreadnought-These are full size acoustic guitars which have a deep warm sound that ring out loudly. These guitars are great for strumming and are a favorite among acoustic guitars players for the rich sound that they produce. In fact, the dreadnought shape is our biggest selling acoustic guitar shape at Replay Guitar Exchange.
Concert or grand concert shape-These guitars are smaller than dreadnought, but are sometimes considered to be more comfortable. They typically will not have as much low end as a larger guitar like the dreadnought due to the size, but still carry a wonderful tone and a great midrange. These are also great guitars for finger style.
Cutaways- Some guitars are constructed with a cutaway that allows for easier access to higher notes. If you want to be able to play higher without difficulty, a cutaway would be a good choice.
Budget
Some guitars are more expensive than others though this does not always mean that they sound better than one another. Set a price range for yourself to determine what you want to spend. Some qualities that will make the price go up are country of origin, hardware, wood type, and brand name. Guitars can range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. You may also consider a used instrument that could save you tons of money!
Size and Comfort
It is always recommended to sit and play the guitar before finalizing your purchase to make sure that the instrument feels comfortable with you. Does the guitar feel great to hold and play? Make sure to pay attention to the scale length and the neck width to make sure it feels good in your hands.
Playability
Pay attention to the action, otherwise known as the string height. Most people prefer the guitar to have the lowest action possible without the guitar buzzing on the neck. The guitar should have a small amount of relief in the neck but mostly straight for the best playability. If you notice any of these are not up to your comfort level, ask one of our in-house luthiers to make an adjustment for you so that it plays easier. A guitar set up can make a HUGE difference.
Try to play several guitars to find the guitar that sounds best to you. Each guitar has its own identity and its own tone. Choose the guitar that best resonates with you.
Brand and Model
Each brand has its own set of models. Some brands may have a long list of models. At Replay Guitar Exchange, we carry some of the most popular and iconic models in the guitar universe including Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, PRS, ESP, Ibanez, Suhr, Gretsch, Jackson, and MORE! Each brand has different types of guitars to offer so ask a salesman what would be good for you based on your interests.
Take Your Time
Sometimes you won’t find the guitar that you are looking for on your first visit. There are thousands of guitars at our store, and we know that it can be overwhelming. Sometimes it is good to think about it before making a guitar purchase or even coming back at another time. Trust us, we get it. Spend some time playing the different guitars and find the one that is right for you.
Think about your future needs when buying a guitar. Is this a guitar that you want to take to an open mic night or the beach? Are you looking for a high-end investment guitar? Is this your first guitar and you do not know where to begin? If you plan to take lessons, a higher quality guitar can make a big difference in how your learning experience shapes out.
I appreciate you reading though this. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the store or give us a phone call at 813-254-8880. We are all gigging musicians at Replay Guitar Exchange and want what is best for you!
-Cliff Hanger
